McIlroy off to new horizons

DUBLIN-based sports management company Horizon, headed by Galway man Conor Ridge, pulled off its biggest coup yesterday with the news that US Open champion and world No 3 Rory McIlroy will become their latest acquisition after leaving Andrew “Chubby” Chandler’s International Sports Management (ISM) company.

There will be considerable speculation that the move was sparked by McIlroy’s friendship with Graeme McDowell who travelled a similar route in late 2007 and has since crowned a number of outstanding achievements with victory in the 2010 US Open, a feat emulated by McIlroy last June. McIlroy didn’t comment on his reasons for the change.

“I would like to sincerely thank Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler and his team for their guidance, representation and management over the past four years since turning professional,” McIlroy said. “Chubby and his team have played a very important role in my success to date. I have made great progress under their management and I will always be grateful.